I am stunned that she is taking a year of school for a distant shot at the olympic team.

I think much of her determination to go to nationals this season is that she doesn't want 2008 Trophee Bompard to be her final event. Even if she doesn't make the Olympic team, if she skates well, her career will have a high note.

I think much of her determination to go to nationals this season is that she doesn't want 2008 Trophee Bompard to be her final event. Even if she doesn't make the Olympic team, if she skates well, her career will have a high note.

This quote sounds to me like your theory is correct:

The last time I competed . . . that's not the way I want to go out," she said. "I want to look forward."

Well nice to see her again. 2 falls and 1 pop on a double axel during a no pressure show. She would have to pull off a comeback for the ages to make the olympic team and would have to improve quite a lot to even get to nationals. She looks very slim and fit...funny, usually when skaters gain weight they lose their jumps. The programs pretty much just looked like she was playing pop music at her practice session...I gotta say, Evan did Billie Jean better.

Well nice to see her again. 2 falls and 1 pop on a double axel during a no pressure show. She would have to pull off a comeback for the ages to make the olympic team and would have to improve quite a lot to even get to nationals. She looks very slim and fit...funny, usually when skaters gain weight they lose their jumps. The programs pretty much just looked like she was playing pop music at her practice session...I gotta say, Evan did Billie Jean better.

You know what, screw the mistakes. I'm just glad to see her performing again.

I said it with Cohen and I'll say it again here: exhibitions mean NOTHING.

That said, if she's really looking to be on the Olympic team again, it's a fighting chance at best. But unlike a few others I'm not gonna take digs at her while saying there's no chance at all.

But unlike a few others I'm not gonna take digs at her while saying there's no chance at all.

I agree. I think her Olympic chances this time around are nonexistent, but it's very petty to me to see people make eville comments about her, especially when she's already down (not that I'm saying it's okay to make such comments about athletes who are at the top either). It's one thing to critique her skating style, but people should be ashamed of themselves for slamming her physical appearance the way I have seen on skating forums.

The fact that she is still out there trying and hasn't given up despite all the adversity against her is to be respected. Like I said on FSU, I think the girl has serious guts for the fact that she's decided to continue on and fight.